Bankruptcy Judge Accused of Blocking Evidence of Forged and Fraudulent Claims

Jose Sandy Buco, a businessman, asserts that Judge Philip Bentley of the Southern District of New York prematurely dismissed his bankruptcy petition just as he was set to provide evidence of an unlawful foreclosure affecting his three properties, which allegedly involved "false, fraudulent, and forged" claims.Buco argues, and court records indicate, that Judge Bentley dismissed the case based on claims totaling approximately $6.4 million, surpassing the $2.75 million threshold for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection. Notably, Buco had filed objections against these claims.“How can a judge determine my debt based solely on the amount stated in the proofs of claim?” Buco expressed, highlighting the necessity of court intervention in disputed matters. He noted that the dismissal occurred shortly after a rescheduled hearing meant for him to contest these claims.At the dismissal hearing, Judge Bentley asserted that Buco had not formally objected to the claims, deeming them valid, which Buco contests. Subsequently, he filed a Rule 60 motion seeking to vacate the dismissal order, but this was denied in June 2025, leaving Buco seeking further recourse through appeal. (Photos: Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free\Wikimedia Commons)